Rice Restaurant & Sushi Bar offers unique Asian food At Rice Restaurant & Sushi Bar, we are dedicated to offering a unique mix of pan Asian cuisine including Japanese, Chinese and deliciously grilled items all served with a beautiful presentation. We offer a variety of traditional dishes prepared with fresh, quality ingredients that is familiar to the American palate. With select daily market deliveries, we serve only the freshest, highest grade sushi and sashimi to please even the most discerning patron. We also offer many varieties of imported sake and daily specials that will amaze you. 4 | BEST OF FORSYTH | 2020
Last year’s Best of Forsyth winners celebrate
2020 | BEST OF FORSYTH | 7
Tam’s Backstage and Tam’s Tupelo loves the Forsyth County community! Thank you for voting us Best of in four categories!
About Tam’s Backstage Tam’s Backstage is the perfect destination before or after a visit to the theater, for family gatherings, or date night. Owners Brian and Kelly Tam bring together a flavorful blend of American cuisines punctuated with a northern Italian flair and spotlighted in a cozy vintage atmosphere. We are located in the lower level of the historic 1927 Cumming Schoolhouse, which is also home to Cumming’s community theatre venue — Tam’s School Street Playhouse. The restaurant’s dramatic setting of a Broadway spotlight sets the stage for a memorable dining experience that will have you planning a return engagement. So sit back, relax and enjoy the presentation!
Act 1
The Tam’s Backstage story starts with a little history. And we believe that the history makes Tam’s Backstage even more unique and interesting. Full of charm and character, Tam’s Backstage is located in the historical Cumming Public School building in the heart of downtown Cumming. The building was originally constructed in 1923. At that time, the building served as Forsyth County’s only school! Teachers “commuted” to Cumming by horseback each week. They would stay across the street at the Brannon-Heard House (then a boarding house) and travel back home on the weekends. The structure has seen a lot of change in
its lifetime to say the least. The Historical Society of Forsyth County recounts that the school house was rebuilt in 1927 after a fire destroyed the interior. Also, the school transformed itself as needs arose and served as a primary grade school, middle grade school and in its final operative years as the headquarters of the Forsyth County Board of Education. In 1999, the City of Cumming acquired the school. “From the wooden floors to the exposed brick walls, our building still speaks to its deep history,” explains Kelly Tam. “In fact, in 2000 the building was named to the National Register of Historic Places.”
Act 2
Enter Brian and Kelly Tam. The two met working in the restaurant business many years ago — we’ll just say it was “back in the day.” From server, to general manager, to area director, they have grown up in the restaurant industry and know it inside and out. When the couple started their family, Kelly stayed home with the
Encore Enter partner David Janowitz, long time friend and colleague who brings a wealth of experience and added talent to grow the brand. With a new concept on the horizon, Brian and Kelly embarked on an adventure ... a Road Trip that lead to the new concept design. Tam’s Tupelo opened in 2016. Visit www.TamsTupelo. com for full story.
About Tam’s Tupelo
From the “Cajun meets Memphis” cuisine to the “warm and breezy, slow and easy” atmosphere, Tam’s Tupelo is a culmination of our experiences on a road trip to The Delta, in Mississippi. Some say it’s “the most southern place on earth!” We like to think of Tupelo as refined casual. Exquisite southern food in a warm, inviting atmosphere. 8 | BEST OF FORSYTH | 2020
kids, and Brian got involved with opening new restaurant concepts in the Atlanta area. As their kids reached middle and high school, Kelly started a catering business serving Forsyth County and surrounding areas. One of her regular clients was The Cumming Playhouse. In 2005, the former Cumming Playhouse asked Brian and Kelly to consider opening a restaurant in the lower level of the school building that would serve theater attendees. The Tam’s jumped at the opportunity and began developing their concept. Initial ideas included a “school house” theme serving upscale sandwiches, soups and salads. However, as they spent time in the space they realized that its wine cellar feel lent itself to a completely different concept.
Act 3
Enter Tam’s Backstage. Tam’s Backstage has a cozy, vintage atmosphere that builds off of its close connection with the Playhouse, located just upstairs. The scratch kitchen offers a flavorful blend of American cuisines punctuated with a northern Italian flair. “We wanted to create a dining experience that featured the playhouse connection as well as the history of the building,” says Kelly. “There really isn’t another restaurant in the area like ours. Not only do we enjoy having theater-goers dine with us, but also families, couples on date night, and even the business crowd.” We look forward to serving you at Tam’s Backstage. Sit back and enjoy the show!
Cumming Pediatric Group strives to guide children through all stages of development Cumming Pediatric Group is so deeply honored to receive Best of Forsyth 2019! All of us at Cumming Pediatric Group are truly appreciative of your support these past 24 years and are committed to being an integral part of this wonderful community for many generations to come. We strive to make every child’s visit as comfortable and friendly as possible and every parent’s visit as informative as possible. All of our providers are Board Certified in pediatrics and enjoy
working with children of all ages. Guiding families with regard to their health, happiness and development as a unit is our long-term commitment to you. Our professional staff is dedicated to providing your children with comprehensive compassionate healthcare. Our providers are trained and experienced in all stages of child development, from newborns to teens. Many many thanks from our FAMILY to yours — we wouldn’t be able to do what we love best without you!
Cumming Pediatric Group 1800 Northside Forsyth Drive Suite 460 Cumming, GA 30041 (770) 888-8888 cummingpediatricgroup.com 26 | BEST OF FORSYTH | 2020
Andean Chevrolet a staple in the community for many years Andean Chevrolet is a true family owned and operated dealership. Founded in 1948 by James A. Otwell Jr., Andean Chevrolet has become a trusted source for new Chevrolet models, as well as parts, service and more. James Otwell III took the reins in 1973 and Andean Chevrolet has been proudlyserving Cumming, GA and surrounding areas ever since. James Otwell III and his four sons; James Otwell IV, John Otwell, Joseph Otwell, and Jacob Otwell, continue the Andean tradition.
We are the leading dealer in Cumming, serving Buford, Canton and Atlanta Chevrolet customers. At our Chevrolet dealership, you can find friendly staff, great service and excellent deals! Make sure you check out our inventory of new and preowned Chevrolet models. The purchase of a new Chevy gets you LIFETIME OIL CHANGES & LIFETIME POWERTRAIN which is exclusive to Andean Chevrolet. You can visit our Chevrolet dealership at 527 Atlanta Road, Cumming, Georgia, 30040.
527 Atlanta Road Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 887-2316 32 | BEST OF FORSYTH | 2020
Hopewell Roofing & Restoration continues to give back to community H
opewell Roofing & Restoration is humbled and honored to have yet again been named Best of Forsyth. The community where we live and work continues to be a blessing, and this accolade is a testament to the fact. In the spirit of giving back to the community, Hopewell Roofing & Restoration is proud to assist those in need through the Roof of Hope initiative. Andy Morrison, owner of Hopewell Roofing & Restoration, has for the past several years built one roof free of charge for families who need it. Morrison said he was glad to be able to help local families. “We like to give back to the community, because the community gives to us,” Morrison said. “I wouldn’t have been in business for ten years if it wasn’t for the people of Forsyth County.” Hopewell Roofing & Restoration could not have achieved the title of Forsyth County’s Best Roofing Contractor without help from those same people as well as all of the company’s devoted customers. We would not be in business without an abundance of satisfied customers who are willing to tell others about the positive experience that they have had with our company. At Hopewell Roofing & Restoration, we are confident we will exceed your expectations every time. How do we do it? By placing high priorities on exceptional, attentive customer service, the highest quality materials and roofing expertise that is second to none. The team at Hopewell Roofing & Restoration strives to create lasting relationships within the Cumming-area roofing industry and the community as a whole. The company’s roofing services go far beyond qualified roof installation and repair. We view this as an opportunity to keep local families and businesses safe, secure and flourishing. Let Hopewell Roofing & Restoration protect your investment. 62 | BEST OF FORSYTH | 2020
Testimonials “I recently had my roof replaced by Hopewell Roofing. James made this a smooth transition from start to finish. His customer service is top notch. My roof looks great and the crew did an excellent job of clean up after the project. I highly recommend them.” — Traci Hatos “The quality of work is fantastic, had the roof replaced in one day. Cleanup was meticulous.The staff is top notch and very easy to work with. Worked with my insurance company flawlessly. If you need roofing work done, look no further you won’t be disappointed. They’re a local company with a great reputation and it shows! Can’t recommend them enough. James, Brandon and his crew are a great team!” — Craig Anthony “Hopewell Roofing is a great company! They handled our roofing issue very professionally! They were on time and the employees were very courteous! This company has also installed new roofs for five of our friends and family members! I can’t say enough good things about this company! Andy Morrison and his crew are the best!” — Morie Corley